Preview — Dark Companion
by Marta Acosta

Orphaned at the age of six, Jane Williams has grown up in a series of foster homes, learning to survive in the shadows of life. Through hard work and determination, she manages to win a scholarship to the exclusive Birch Grove Academy. There, for the first time, Jane finds herself accepted by a group of friends. She even starts tutoring the headmistress’s gorgeous son, LucOrphaned at the age of six, Jane Williams has grown up in a series of foster homes, learning to survive in the shadows of life. Through hard work and determination, she manages to win a scholarship to the exclusive Birch Grove Academy. There, for the first time, Jane finds herself accepted by a group of friends. She even starts tutoring the headmistress’s gorgeous son, Lucien. Things seem too good to be true.

They are.

The more she learns about Birch Grove’s recent past, the more Jane comes to suspect that there is something sinister going on. Why did the wife of a popular teacher kill herself? What happened to the former scholarship student, whose place Jane took? Why does Lucien’s brother, Jack, seem to dislike her so much?

As Jane begins to piece together the answers to the puzzle, she must find out why she was brought to Birch Grove and what she would risk to stay there..because even the brightest people make terrible decisions when they are offered the things they desire most.

NOTE TO READERS: This book contains some disturbing scenes because exploitation of the vulnerable is disturbing....more

Community Reviews

After being brought back to life from an accident that killed her, Jane is left with no memory of her childhood, and no parents. A foster child in a run-down town of Helmsdale, Jane can't refuse when a scholarship to an elite all-girl school is offered. She gets living expenses and her own place to live. It all seems so unreal, and it definitely feels… bizarre.

Dark Companion is different from anything I've ever read. It's a Gothic novel with a dark vibe, sweet romance, and original plot twists.After being brought back to life from an accident that killed her, Jane is left with no memory of her childhood, and no parents. A foster child in a run-down town of Helmsdale, Jane can't refuse when a scholarship to an elite all-girl school is offered. She gets living expenses and her own place to live. It all seems so unreal, and it definitely feels… bizarre.

Dark Companion is different from anything I've ever read. It's a Gothic novel with a dark vibe, sweet romance, and original plot twists. When I met Jane, the protagonist, I found her a bit awkward and strange. She was raised in foster homes in a decrepit town and has only recently learned to speak proper English. I was a bit apprehensive about what kind of character she would be and how it would affect the story. But once she gets to Birch Grove Academy, Jane makes a few friends, starts getting out of her shell, and becomes a very enjoyable, sophisticated character. She is not afraid to speak her mind; she makes her intentions and feelings clear and I admired that about her. Her friend Mary Violet is easily the funnest character in the novel. She is absolutely hilarious with her quirky poetry and sarcastic sense of humor. Lucky and his brother, Jack, are the only guys on campus - the headmistress's sons. I was never sure which one Jane was romantically fond of, but I was glad that I was rooting for the right one. I liked them both. Jack is more arrogant, yet charming, while Lucky is the outgoing, if a bit strange, one.

The blurb of Dark Companion gives out an eerie feeling but without a lot of actual plot details. Although perfect to avoid spoilers and set the right mood, it left me unsure of what to expect. Once inside its pages, I was completely thrown off my game - not in a bad way, it was just so different and unique. Above all else, I was surprised by the dark Gothic mood of the story, which was great because I'm a big fan and loved nearly every Gothic mystery I've had a chance to read. The "Birch Grove secret" is a lot different from what I envisioned. It is undeniably strange, but also very interesting with a touch of realism to it - as in: in our world. (I even Googled!). However, I did find that once the secret is revealed, the story takes a more haphazard course. A lot of plot twists and turns are exposed in a manner than left me a bit overwhelmed. The ending did redeem it a little: It ends sweetly with a resolved feel and a good outlook to the future.

Dark Companion is a book that I don't think will be for everyone; it calls for a certain audience. Be prepared for Gothic-type mysteries, unusual plot elements and an old-world feel. Fortunately, I found myself enthralled by it's eccentricity and fully enjoyed it.

Initial Thoughts: There were parts of "Dark Companion" I liked enough to see where they went, but I don't think those parts outweighed the many times this book seemed to drop the ball and then some. I have a long review to write on this, so hopefully I can explain why this book didn't work for the kind of story it was going for. Gothic mysteries that tend to push the edge of things are fine, but I think for it to work, it has to have some measure of cohesion - there was very little holding thisInitial Thoughts: There were parts of "Dark Companion" I liked enough to see where they went, but I don't think those parts outweighed the many times this book seemed to drop the ball and then some. I have a long review to write on this, so hopefully I can explain why this book didn't work for the kind of story it was going for. Gothic mysteries that tend to push the edge of things are fine, but I think for it to work, it has to have some measure of cohesion - there was very little holding this story together and it further fell apart after a certain point.

Full Review:

I find it difficult to know where to start with Marta Acosta's "Dark Companion" because I think Acosta's a solid writer - her eye for description in the sense of setting and establishing a specific mood is very well done. I wish I could give this more than a single star where the actual writing stylistic (not necessarily the pacing) is concerned. When I consider the collective whole of the story behind "Dark Companion" - there were many ties that suggested it could go into a wonderfully alluring direction with the mystery behind a disappearance and a love story, while maintaining some interesting loose parallels with Bronte's "Jane Eyre".

But then it decided to drop the ball - hard. It's so inconsistent that I'm finding it painful to discuss even as I try to put words to what exactly went wrong in the duration of the story. I'm sure this could've been a better book if it weren't for several jarring factors that threw me out several times as I read it.

The premise of this book had the makings of a wonderfully drawn mystery/suspense in a gothic, school-based setting, where an underprivileged girl named Jane attends in the hopes of reaching a better life from her foster upbringing and painful past (which she doesn't quite remember as readily). Yet, as Jane adjusts to the well-to-do settings of the school, she not only finds her heart torn in the mix of love and pain, but also a part in a mysterious, dangerous scheme in the backdrop of Birch Grove involving a missing person and some shady happenings in the backdrop of the school.

I think one of the major problems that I saw from the get go in this book were the inconsistencies in the characterizations. There were problems with the voices of the characters - either being too formal or too casual and not settling into either one in the duration of the story. Jane herself is said to come from the ghetto, but while I could believe she's an intelligent young woman who worked her way up within a very tough background, I don't think the writing supports her character or background very well. She's very set in her ways, probably as a result of the life she went through, but we never see glimpses of the before "shown" (not told) to support that attitude.

The characters she's surrounded by in her former lifestyle (with the exception of Wilde) are terrible one-dimensional stereotypes. Jane herself even seems single-minded as she champions math and science for the logic behind them and condescends arts/literature for their impracticalities (constantly - that annoyed me because the arts and sciences are equally important).

While Jane takes on a rationale where she looks for the practical measures of things, she behaves in a way that suggests otherwise when her back's put against the wall in some very jarring measures - going against everything that's established in her characterization from the initial points. I didn't like her Birch Grove friends all that much because they also seemed like stock characters and their voices didn't seem like teenagers would speak at all. Yet, I want to address my primary focus in characterization on the two LIs (love interests) in this book - Jack and Lucky.

Jack comes across as your typical jokester who flirts with Jane and calls her pet names (Halfling, pixie, among others). He looks after her when he's actually in the story to some extent. I had mixed feelings about his introduction, but the guy is funny in spurts as the story shows him later on. Some of the more intimate scenes where he and Jane are talking to each other (probably far and few between) showcase how much he cares for Jane. I think some of those scenes came a little too late and should've been incorporated much earlier than they were, so that at least when Jane begins to warm up to him (instead of fending him off constantly), it feels less jarring when she suddenly decides how good of a person he is to her. But even in the times where he's decent, there are other times when his interactions with her are awkward and forced.

Then there's Lucky. Honestly, I'm still trying to figure out what Jane saw in this needy jerk, and I could think of a boatload of harsher names to call him otherwise. I never got the attraction between these two in the whole time that I read this book - it was never really shown. There was nothing that told me anything about how Jane was attractive to him, and him to her. Sure there were physical aspects (appearance) of him described that were alluring - okay. Sure he seemed nice to her initially when they talked. But even in their first full encounter - he shows an interest in her blood.

No, this isn't a vampire novel. There are mentions of vampires among other stuff here, but it's not a vampire thing - it's more of a genetic disorder thing. So the family says. In any case, Lucky's fascination with Jane comes with her blood. So what does he do?

He takes out a knife, asks her to cut her finger, and starts sucking at her blood. At least Jane's fairly freaked out about it the first time he does it, even as he gets carried away and hurts her. He says he "needs" it, needs her.

Normally I'm freaked out enough about the number of books in current YA culture that have male love interests who hurt the women they love (or have women who feel they have to be hurt) in some way for the sake of love, but I decide to see where this goes to some extent. Part of me hopes that the author knocks this idea down with the fury of a thousand mighty fists.

Jane, up until a certain point, has been independent and doesn't really take any crap from anyone (so she says *rolls eyes* I really hate the fact that sometimes this factor is shoved in the reader's face, especially from the heroine's voice herself). But her character does a 180 and becomes completely lax about this and goes gaga over the guy, thinking if she subjects herself to his demands, he'll find a way to love her.

Doesn't even touch the tip of the mind trip that Jane discovers in the backdrop of Birch Grove. She realizes there's something of a secret cult like social hierarchy in the backdrop of Birch Grove, with Lucky seeking someone to help him survive his genetic condition (remedied by feeding on his chosen's blood). Jane learns this from someone who isn't supposed to tell her, and there's to be a secret induction among the group to establish this tie. Apparently, the deal is that in exchange for being the person who gives their blood over to Lucky (per se), they establish a lifelong tie which grants them anything they want in terms of their ambitions (Ph.D., M.D., whatever). All supposed to be a very "logical" progression. And no, I'm not using logical in quotes to be snippy, but the term "logical" is used several times to explain these terms to Jane.

It wasn't very logical at all. In fact, I think it showed several plot holes and transition problems more than a little bit.

Suffice to say, Jane freaks out and runs like the wind out of there, back to her old life, only to realize that "No" - she's not sacrificing her future in the mix of this, and decides to go back to Birch Grove after a time to see the truth of the matter and to take charge of what she wants in her life. She then decides that, since she somehow loves Lucky in the time this is going on, that she'll subject herself to his whims and tries to justify him cutting her with a knife in different places on her body and drinking her blood.

I didn't like the portrayal at all. It's painful to read in spurts, especially since it comes across in some degree of detail, especially with Jane crying with some of the ways she's physically cut yet somehow saying that it makes her feel "alive" in the process.

The book does show, somewhat, how wrong these actions are, while occurring in the backdrop of a murder mystery that Jane ends up resolving in her returns to Birch Grove and getting down to the mystery ties, but the mixing of the mystery in with the so-called love story seems so haphazard. It takes a long time to get to the results of these events and even then, it's sometimes hard to see the transitional states to where the emotional constructions match up. Add to the fact that these characters aren't appropriately fleshed out, and it's really difficult to align to. In the end, I found it hard to see the progression/growths that they take enough to care about them, and I think the way Acosta structured this story, alongside taking too much time to progress to that point, really made the collective story suffer in the aftermath.

Suffice to say, it began with an interesting idea in the setting and mystery premise and I do give full credit to Acosta's stylistic in her writing. I really wish the structuring, pacing, and characterization in the story was better, it could've gone in a much better direction/progression than it did.

Overall score: 1/5

Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher Tor/Forge....more

SavvyI really enjoyed your review. I also felt I had to force myself to finish the book. Jane's actions with Lucky were so frustrating! And I hated the wayI really enjoyed your review. I also felt I had to force myself to finish the book. Jane's actions with Lucky were so frustrating! And I hated the way she judged Wilde for how she took care of herself, when Jane just overlooked Lucky's treatment of her. I never really noticed what exactly drew Jane to Lucky, either. My 3 star review is just a go-to for okay books....more
Aug 11, 2012 09:53AM

KristinThis review captures what I felt about the book too. Oh, and what about (view spoiler)[the Lady of the Wood and the other dimension and the guy who loThis review captures what I felt about the book too. Oh, and what about (view spoiler)[the Lady of the Wood and the other dimension and the guy who looks like Jack, (hide spoiler)] all of which seemed to come out of left field somewhere. The other thing that REALLY bothered me is how VERY UN-Jane Eyre-like Jane's going along with Lucky's abuse was. The "real" Jane was much stronger and feistier than this shallow Jane.

Okay. The day I let someone cut me and suck on my bloody wounds is the day I ask someone to please end it all for me.

I’m not sure how I feel about this book. I appreciate a heroine who comes from a grim reality, but it’s always at the back of my mind to wonder at the authenticity of things.

I thought the dialogue was good and THAT’S SAYING SOMETHING. The heroine was well-developed, and there was a reason for every strength and every weakness. She was not useless, but nor was she unrelatably (prOkay. The day I let someone cut me and suck on my bloody wounds is the day I ask someone to please end it all for me.

I’m not sure how I feel about this book. I appreciate a heroine who comes from a grim reality, but it’s always at the back of my mind to wonder at the authenticity of things.

I thought the dialogue was good and THAT’S SAYING SOMETHING. The heroine was well-developed, and there was a reason for every strength and every weakness. She was not useless, but nor was she unrelatably (probably not a word) kick-ass. ALSO major plus that every single guy she came in contact with DID NOT fall madly in love with her for no reason. In this book, at least I could believe it when the ONE guy did. Except, huge pet peeve of YA books, a heroine who is completely oblivious when a boy likes her. That almost ruined it for me. I constantly think that people are secretly in love with me. We all do that. Don't pretend you don't.

That said, going back to the beginning point, the whole thing with Lucky was just too much. It made me want to drown myself, and that almost happened to me the other day so I know it's not a great experience. That's how serious I am right now. I’m gathering that was probably the point, and I get that people make mistakes all the time, and I know people often like people who use them.... Yeah, everyone’s done it to a point. To a point. The fact that she let it go on for so long and was so hypocritical about it ruined my enjoyment of the book and the likability of the character. She spent so much time lamenting/judging Wilde’s life choices, but her inability to see her parallel whoring annoyed the hell out of me and contradicted her supposedly rational way of thinking. I’ve said this before: if an author is going to go dark, they have to deal with the issues. I appreciate a character that needs help, but I don’t appreciate when the story wraps up like she doesn’t. ...more

I'm sorry. I can no longer continue. I've never understood how anyone can say a character is TSTL. Well, now I know. This book is FUCKED UP. WRONG. The subject matter is totally inappropriate considering it's being marketed as a young adult novel. What the hell?

The first half was so good. The dialogues left me awe-struck because I've never, ever read any teenagers converse so eloquently but flippant enough that you can tell their age. They made the inconsequential conversations turn into momentI'm sorry. I can no longer continue. I've never understood how anyone can say a character is TSTL. Well, now I know. This book is FUCKED UP. WRONG. The subject matter is totally inappropriate considering it's being marketed as a young adult novel. What the hell?

The first half was so good. The dialogues left me awe-struck because I've never, ever read any teenagers converse so eloquently but flippant enough that you can tell their age. They made the inconsequential conversations turn into moments of enlightenments on this reader. The best characters being Mary Violet and Jack. Jane Williams had her moments too but OMG. Why? Why? That's all I can say.

This book was Jekyll and Hyde. I feel betrayed.

I can't say anything bad about the writing because like I said, there is a genuine intelligence that comes through within its pages.

I just couldn't finish this book. It was so not interesting to me even though the plot sounded good. But 100+ pages in I just couldn't continue to read. This irritates me as 99.9% of the time I finish every book I start reading. But I just couldn't do it with this one.

I’ve always loved books that are set in boarding school. The only reason why is because there are no restrictions from parents or guardians and it’s always entertaining to read how teens act when there are no adults around. But Jane is the exception. She’s an orphan and wants nothing more than to leave her foster family. Her goals and aspirations have fueled her to gain a scholarship at a private all-girls school. Finally her luck is changing and she leaves without looking back.

Jane is this charI’ve always loved books that are set in boarding school. The only reason why is because there are no restrictions from parents or guardians and it’s always entertaining to read how teens act when there are no adults around. But Jane is the exception. She’s an orphan and wants nothing more than to leave her foster family. Her goals and aspirations have fueled her to gain a scholarship at a private all-girls school. Finally her luck is changing and she leaves without looking back.

Jane is this character that made my protective instincts on high alert. She’s vulnerable but at the same time there’s a hardness and audacity about her. I can’t imagine that it was easy to go through the things that she did, but Jane does it in such a classy way that you can’t help but cheer for her. I definitely loved the teasing banter between Jane and Jack. Lucky was just arrogant and I pretty much casted him off as the jerk. As for Mary Violet, I loved her. She’s smart, funny, and a super sweet friend to Jane.

Reading Dark Companion, it was like tagging along in a movie where you are so immersed in the character’s life, you forget your own. The pacing is perfect, and the story keeps humming along so I wasn’t at all bored. There are many twists and turns and I couldn’t figure out what was going on which was so frustrating, but I ended up liking it because it wasn’t what I expected. I love Marta Acosta’s writing style and will be on the lookout for more of her novels....more

When the manuscript for Dark Companion first arrived in my hands, I admit that I was a little scared. It was daunting stack of 200+ pages that would later be printed, bound, and shipped off as a book. While 200 pages might not so scary on screen, when you have it your hands and feel its weight, you worry if you can ever finish it. So I set a goal for myself, a chapter per day while eating breakfast/lunch.Note Dark Companion is *not* a paranormal romance novel. Marta Acosta calls it dark Gothic.

When the manuscript for Dark Companion first arrived in my hands, I admit that I was a little scared. It was daunting stack of 200+ pages that would later be printed, bound, and shipped off as a book. While 200 pages might not so scary on screen, when you have it your hands and feel its weight, you worry if you can ever finish it. So I set a goal for myself, a chapter per day while eating breakfast/lunch. (The convenience of a lightweight single paper as opposed to a huge book makes that possible.) But for some reason I couldn’t stop at one chapter per day.

Dark Companion is addicting. It immediately drew me in from the very first page and wouldn’t let go until the last. With its combination of sinister secrets and equal parts light and dark romances, Marta Acosta’s debut YA novel will surly captivate new readers. (And have some fans asking for their own Jake; I know I want my own Jack.) With strong, but conflicted heroine Jane Williams leading the charge of a delightful motley crew, Dark Companion really asks what the true worth of free will really is to a person.

The prologue leaves readers wanting to know what happens next, what happened before. Rather than forcing the readers to continue on just to make any sense of the scene, Marta Acosta dangles a carrot to entice the reader. It was a great hook for what I hoped to be a great book.

The characters alone seemed to seal the deal for me. When I say a motley crew, I meant it. From Jack, the epitome of an organic, healthy, silly boy to the melodramatic and amusing Mary Violet, every character is different. However it was Lucian (Lucky) that I suspect will leave readers torn down the middle. He is rather childish, selfish, arrogant and hard to emphasize with. I spent a good 10 minutes ranting to someone how much I disliked him and why Jane liked/pitied him. This is not necessarily a bad thing since polarization creates discussions between readers and what better way to spread a book than through talking.

Jane Williams was a surprising character. On one hand she is constantly praised for her intelligence. She’s book smart, but she’s also street smart. And yet I felt that because she’s never known physical and emotional security she latches onto Lucky (whom you might recall isn’t the most giving and kind boyfriend). He comes from a well-do-to family and definitely shows some sort of attraction towards her, which would later prove dark. He can provide physical security, but emotionally he’s much more immature than her. I could empathize with Jane while at the same time I wanted to shake her. Her development over the course of the novel showed Jane transforming from the little Mousie and just Jane and her taking roots. Her old lifestyle was all that she knew and can’t forget (that results in a charity that made me proud), but this new lifestyle was one she grew accustomed to.

Dark Companion delves into the issue of security that separates the major characters into two separate groups. There is the survival of a population and there is the individual survival. Which is worth more depends on the character’s personality which comes through the dialogue and action. Their actions are far from the norm which makes it hard for me, particularly, to comprehend and swallow. I understood why—for the sake of survival of course—but the motives were evil and dark. Dark Companion is a great title because it gives a sense of the plot and just how “dark” this novel can actually get.

Dark Companion will shock readers with its many twists and turns. While readers might have an inkling of what might come, the finer details will be a complete surprise. Marta Acosta has begun to what I hope will be a long continuation of YA novels. ...more

ScarlettI am SO glad you hear you say that this is NOT a paranormal romance novel. I like that genre well enough, but it can get kind of the same after a whilI am SO glad you hear you say that this is NOT a paranormal romance novel. I like that genre well enough, but it can get kind of the same after a while. I'm definitely willing to give this one a try after your fantastic review!...more
Apr 07, 2012 08:00PM

I'd say probably 1 1/2 stars. There were things I liked (Jack, MV), but far more that I didn't. It was well-written, but really just not for me. I may or may not do a full review on it. I don't know if I can adequately explain my feelings.

Full Review:Here's one that drew me in with the very creepy cover (which, sadly, I will not be posting because I had an e-book copy of it instead of a hard copy that I could take a picture of) and the premise. I'm sad that it didn't live up to the expectationsI'd say probably 1 1/2 stars. There were things I liked (Jack, MV), but far more that I didn't. It was well-written, but really just not for me. I may or may not do a full review on it. I don't know if I can adequately explain my feelings.

Full Review:Here's one that drew me in with the very creepy cover (which, sadly, I will not be posting because I had an e-book copy of it instead of a hard copy that I could take a picture of) and the premise. I'm sad that it didn't live up to the expectations that I had.

Here's why:

First of all, I couldn't stand Jane. I felt like she was flat for most of the book. I was bugged by her constant defensiveness, though I could forgive her that based on her upbringing. It wasn't what killed her for me. No, it was the fact that the boy she wanted put her in danger and SHE LET HIM DO IT. Over and over and over. She sort of tried to stand up for herself at times, but she was so wishy-washy that it didn't really take. Honestly, she was Bella all over for me, and you know how much I despise Bella.

Here's another thing about Jane - her inferiority complex AND superiority complex. How is it possible to feel inferior to someone and superior at the same time? Ask Jane, because she does it through the whole book.

Second, I felt like it took almost 3/4 of the book for anything to actually happen. There was so much buildup and introduction and what color bras are we buying for Jane that I got bored. This is a seriously creepy book and I GOT BORED. Not supposed to happen.Third, the BIG THING that was supposed to completely blow me out of the water...didn't. Sure, it was creepy and on the disturbing side, but it was mostly cheesy. I was more interested in what Mary Violet was going to come up with next than I was about what would happen to Jane now that the BIG THING was out.

Here's what I DID like:

Jack. He was great. He was arrogant and kind of absurd, but in such a way that made me want to hang out with him. He was funny and a much-needed breath of fresh air.

Mary Violet. In a word? Hilarious. Her poetry alone makes the time I spent with this book worth it. Also, she makes up words that had me laughing out loud. And her French? Waaaaaaahahahahahahahaha!! Yes, she and I would be friends.

So, there you have it. I tried to like this book, and I did finish it. I'm glad there were two characters that I liked, because they really did save this for me. I still don't like it, but I have at least those fond memories and won't leave it with a completely poor opinion.

A intricate book that mixes a variety of tones and plot lines. The first half sucked me in,giving me confidence in Jane's steady and methodical nature,then making me worry that her past would blind her to joys and dangers right in front of her. The question set up is what view of the world is right,Jane's equations or her friends magic and poetry... and Marta Acosta's answer to that question is the most complicated thing of all.

I loved the first half of this book, Jane Williams was as captivatiA intricate book that mixes a variety of tones and plot lines. The first half sucked me in,giving me confidence in Jane's steady and methodical nature,then making me worry that her past would blind her to joys and dangers right in front of her. The question set up is what view of the world is right,Jane's equations or her friends magic and poetry... and Marta Acosta's answer to that question is the most complicated thing of all.

I loved the first half of this book, Jane Williams was as captivating and vulnerable as her literary ancestress,Jane Eyre. I loved that magic was not assured (and indeed, does not show up where and how you expect). I loved that I had no idea how things were going to unfold, either romantically with Jack and Lucky, or plot-wise with the missing women and odd dynamics of Birch Grove. Once these questions began to be answered, the story became less tightly structured. It felt like two books in one, with scenes and details that were wonderful but didn't fit the flow of the narrative. The mystery came apart in a very Gothic fashion, the romance resolved almost too neatly, and while I appreciated the future laid out before Jane I couldn't get a handle on whether the story was building to a close or to a sequel.

DARK COMPANION careens with it the seeds of several good stories, and details that I will enjoy mulling over in the future, but the book itself doesn't manage to present all if these seeds in particularly polished manner. The writing and the characterization is wonderful, but the narrative flow wanders and breaks apart in the end. Of course, this just leaves room for me to imagine my own ending for the story, and Jane is definitely a character that I'll enjoy returning to, if only in daydreams.

Jane Williams has just been given a full scholarship to attend Birch Grove Academy, an elite girl's school where she will have a second chance at life, away from the violent city slums of Helmsdale where she's lived her entire life. Once Jane arrives at the school, she starts making friends and falling for a couple of the boys who live near the school-- both who happen to be the sons of the school's headmistress. However, Jane starts realizing that there is something strange about Birch Grove,.

Jane Williams has just been given a full scholarship to attend Birch Grove Academy, an elite girl's school where she will have a second chance at life, away from the violent city slums of Helmsdale where she's lived her entire life. Once Jane arrives at the school, she starts making friends and falling for a couple of the boys who live near the school-- both who happen to be the sons of the school's headmistress. However, Jane starts realizing that there is something strange about Birch Grove, and that her reason for being there might not be as simple as she thought it was.

This book was just "OK" for me... I did like reading it, but there were some things about the characters and the plot that I wasn't really a fan of. I'm not even sure I can put my finger on exactly what it was that I disliked, but there were definitely parts about this book that rubbed me the wrong way.

I did like the main character, Jane Williams, who was sort of like a modern-day Eliza Dolittle, who rises up from her slum-life background in order to become an educated and well-spoken student with a chance to succeed in life. I loved how she came from such a dismal background but worked hard to overcome her disadvantages. There were also many similarities between her and Jane Eyre, which were echoed throughout the book.

I also liked the secondary characters, especially Mary Violet and Jack-- they were quirky, strange, and kind of unbelievable, but still managed to give the story somewhat of a dream-like quality, because they were slightly "off." It's sort of hard to explain I guess, but basically I liked them because they were different! The ways they talked and behaved were a bit funny, but still very memorable.

One character I could not stand was Lucian "Lucky" Radcliffe, the headmistress's son. Lucky was your typical, unattainable golden boy, who was also extremely selfish and walked all over everybody to get what he wanted. At the start of the story, Jane has thoughts of "How could someone as awesome as him like someone as average as me?" Not that that's bad necessarily, but she did get a little too fan-girl for my taste at times, and I wish she didn't feel like she had to try so hard. Lucky, on the other hand, was controlling and possessive, and even made Jane promise to keep their abusive relationship a secret, and I really wish she would've taken that as a major warning sign to stay the heck away from him a lot sooner than she did.

The story unfolded a bit slowly, but it was still able to build up the right amount of mystery and suspense-- for the first hundred pages or so, you know that something isn't quite right, but you can't really put your finger on it. I was really impressed by this subtle eeriness that only "hints" at something being off, because it made me really curious to figure out what was going on!

I did like the element of mystery in this plot, trying to figure out what Birch Grove Academy's secret was, and how the scholarship girl that Jane replaced disappeared. However, I did think that the story began to drag a bit, about halfway through the book, and the ending was somewhat anticlimactic, even though there were a few unexpected twists and everything ended up being neatly resolved with all the strings tied up.

Altogether, I think that there will be people who really like this one, and others who may not be huge fans. The dark, Gothic nature of the story and the mysterious mood that surrounded the plot were done really well. However, I wasn't able to connect with the characters quite as much as I would have liked, and I had some trouble keeping my attention going towards the last half of the book. I personally didn't mind reading it, but it was by no means a favorite unfortunately!

GiselleHaha. Yeah I always convert PDFs to ePubs. They're never perfect sometimes you have to skip the name of the author every few paragraphs but it's muchHaha. Yeah I always convert PDFs to ePubs. They're never perfect sometimes you have to skip the name of the author every few paragraphs but it's much better than PDFs. Those hurt my eyes!...more
Nov 21, 2011 04:33PM

*Secret*Fatty*how did you already get to read this when it's not due to be out until June of 2012?
Dec 04, 2011 01:01PM

Jane is leaving the squalid neighborhood known as Hellsdale. She has spent the last few years living in Hell as she fights to survive the brutal streets, avoid prostitution, drugs, shootings and all the evils that plague those living in this run down neighborhood. The death of her best friend spurred her to apply herself and earn her way out of the poverty. Her studious habits and hard work have finally paid off. Jane is the lucky

Four Stars: A mysterious, dark, compelling read full of surprises.

Jane is leaving the squalid neighborhood known as Hellsdale. She has spent the last few years living in Hell as she fights to survive the brutal streets, avoid prostitution, drugs, shootings and all the evils that plague those living in this run down neighborhood. The death of her best friend spurred her to apply herself and earn her way out of the poverty. Her studious habits and hard work have finally paid off. Jane is the lucky recipient of a full scholarship with room and board included at an elite all girl's school. For a girl like Jane who has known nothing but pain and suffering, it is a dream come true. She bids her friends goodbye and turns her back on the hellish foster home. Free at last! She is an emancipated minor on her way out of here. Once she arrives at the beautiful, old prep school, she soon begins to feel like something is a bit off. The town, school and people surrounding her seem like they are hiding something. Is the offer too good to be true? What exactly is going on at Birch Grove?

What I Liked:*This book opens with a bang...a gripping scene with a young girl racing to hide trying to escape a faceless monster and then a reprieve and rescue by an unexpected source. I was astounded by the beginning of this book. *I loved the way Ms. Acosta creates an atmosphere thick with suspense as she carefully takes her time notching up the tension, building and building to a big reveal. I love finding a book that relies on a mystery that is slow to unfold and heavy on the intrigue, and that is what I found with this book.*I appreciated the time that the author takes to introduce the reader to Jane. She is a complex girl, one who has known a difficult life filled with pain, sorrow and little affection. She is fierce, determined, untrusting and emotionally frozen. After a lifetime of burdens, she finally seems to have a bit of good misfortune and the reader watches her tentatively taking those tiny steps into her new life, unwilling to open her heart and let anyone get too close, too soon. Not only does Ms. Acosta take her time sculpting and fleshing out Jane, she also creates a superb cast of secondary characters that were just as fascinating as Jane, from the tousled Jack, the tragic teacher, the lost Wilde, the bubbling, enthusiastic and totally lovable Mary Violet to the solemn and commanding presence of 2Slim and the prim and proper head mistress of Birch Grove. I was pleased to find an excellent set of characters in this book.*I loved that this book kept me in the dark with its gothic setting and creepy atmosphere. On the surface everything appears to be in order, but the reader gets these little flashes and niggles that something is just a bit off. You have no idea what is going on for the longest time and then when you finally start uncovering the secrets, it is not what you expect.*I appreciated that Ms. Acosta takes a supernatural entity and gives it yet another make over, providing a new and interesting take on well known lore and legend. I loved the mysterious trees, they are always in the background, waving and whispering in the wind, making the reader wonder if there is a paranormal aspect to the simple birch trees. I was fascinated and excited to run across a different and refreshing paranormal element in this book.*I liked that this book has a nice, neat resolution. It appears to be a stand alone novel, but the author definitely leaves a few lingering story strands that could easily be gathered and spun into a new story.The writing is engaging and compelling!

And The Not So Much:*As I mentioned earlier, I loved the way Ms. Acosta took her time to acquaint the reader with Jane, and I totally felt like I got her and knew what made her tick, until she gets tangled up with Lucky. Once she becomes enamored with this spoiled, pretty boy, she wavers. At this point, I lost a bit of respect for her as she meanders down a path that made me shake my head in disapproval. I was unhappy as this fierce girl let herself fall into a situation where she was being used and taken advantage of...It seemed to go against every fiber in her being, and yet, I understood why she acted like she did. In her desperate attempt to feel love and self worth, something she had only known when her friend, Hosea, was alive, she falls into the trap. As much as this disappointed me, I got it. Jane is quite the conundrum!*Unfortunately, this book tries to introduce a love triangle but it never quite stands tall in a three angled shape. Instead, there are hints from the first meeting with one of the boys that he is totally into Jane with his antagonistic behavior, but Jane always brushes him off and doesn't take his advances seriously. She affixes her sights on the golden boy, who in turn does not see her as a romantic interest, he only wants her for is own twisted desires. So you end up with a triangle that never completely forms, which is a good thing.*I wasn't satisfied with how quickly Jane flips her affections. Granted it was staring at her in the face the whole time, but her sudden change of heart felt a bit hurried to me. I think because she tends to make most of her decisions so carefully and methodically that this quick turnabout caught me a bit off guard. I would like to have seen her work through it a little more.*I was a bit put off by the whole discussion on the Companions. Granted, it is a unique twist, but I just wasn't thrilled reading all the details. Less is more. This is a personal preference and I am sure it won't be an issue with most readers.*I was so excited to find something new in the paranormal genre, but I was a bit disappointed in that the birch trees didn't end up playing a more prominent role. I was hoping that they would be a predominant feature, but alas they were just a tiny part of this engrossing tale.

Dark Companion is an interesting book that blends a gothic setting with some paranormal aspects that are unique and refreshing. This book takes its time laying out intricate story threads that will entangle the reader and pull them into the intricate web of story lines. This novel is one that will keep you on your toes and in the dark until the final pages. If you like a read thick with tension and suspense, pick this one up.

Favorite Quotations:“On the night that I die, a storm rages, and the thin glass of the cheap windows shudder as if beaten by fists, and the wind howls like someone calling come away, come away.”

“I tugged away that memory as if I was tugging at a loose thread, little knowing that I was unraveling the entirety of my brief existence. Because who are we without our memories?”

“When our bodies decompose, it doesn’t matter if we were rich, poor, smart, stupid, good-looking, or ugly....None of that matters, because our chemical components are all the same. In death, we’re all equal.”

“He had a pleasant smile, but I could tell that it was like mine, something he was wearing to please others.”

“Are we afraid of what is outside lurking in the night, or do we dread the darkness of our own souls?”

“Art isn’t alive unless it’s seen and loved.”

“Money doesn’t solve loneliness, Jane. It makes it harder for me to figure out who my real friends are.”

“She smiled innocently, and my heart broke. She was like someone lost on the highway who keeps taking the wrong turns and getting farther and farther away from her destination.”

“I came to accept my past; I didn’t want to limit my experiences to the interior of a snow globe, no matter how pretty it was.”

“I wouldn’t forget where I came from, and I wouldn’t stop exploring unknown territories because others feared there might be dragons.”

I received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review courtesy of Tor Teen Publishing.

Do you remember old classics of Charles Dickens or Emily Bronte where a lonely orphan kid was sent to some boarding school where he or she went through endless sufferings and learned about cruel world? Well, Dark Companion might sound like similar, but let me tell you other than an orphan girl part and boarding school in remote town, how different the novel is. Of course the novel is inspired by old classics but it’s dark, gothic and haunting. And our heroine is not some scared little girl, sheDo you remember old classics of Charles Dickens or Emily Bronte where a lonely orphan kid was sent to some boarding school where he or she went through endless sufferings and learned about cruel world? Well, Dark Companion might sound like similar, but let me tell you other than an orphan girl part and boarding school in remote town, how different the novel is. Of course the novel is inspired by old classics but it’s dark, gothic and haunting. And our heroine is not some scared little girl, she is actually a brave one who likes to dig in and discover truth.

Orphaned in little age, Jane has grown up into foster care and finally chosen to join prestigious Bitch Grove Academy on basis of her excellent merit. Thing became more exiting for her, when she got her own cottage to stay, a bunch of good friends, also got a chance to be with head mistress’s handsome son Lucian. But fate has something other planned for her and she bumped into Lucian’s elder brother Jack who seems to dislike her as much as she dislikes him. Soon Jane became aware something sinister is going on in bitch grove, and the solitary dark forest has some secrets. What happened to the last scholarship student? Why the wife of her teacher killed herself who was also a scholarship student from the same foster home as Jane’s? Is there some reason Jane was bought to Bitch Grove?

I was pleased with the main character’s growth and how they changes throughout the story revealing new side of them that reader can never guess. I liked how the characters were successful to hide their true motive behind a mask of goodness and some of their intentions were horrific.

Jane is ordinary girl with no memory of her childhood and bad memory of foster care afterwards. When she was accepted for the scholarship and encountered series of mysterious events, sometimes I was really scared for her, but she proved me wrong. Coming through horrible experience of her past foster homes, she knows how to adjust and handle things on her own. One by one she uncover horrific past events related to the last scholarship girl Bebe, and suicide of Mrs. Mason, endangering her present and making herself next victim. Jane was an absolute brilliant girl but as we know love is blind. When things came to Lucky, she went all head over heels and did stupid things, even deny acknowledge her affection for Jack.

Well I admire Jack more than Lucky. Lucky is handsome, charming and extremely polite that makes him blue eyed to every Butch Grove girl, and Jack was opposite. He is funny, protective and caring…exactly kind of guy I would love to be with, and yes handsome too. Jane was appointed to tutor Lucky that was only an excuse to hang around her some reason that is not related to love, but something dangerous. I loved the way jack talks and call Jane with funny yet adorable names such as Halflings and Pixie.

Dark Companion is a surprising YA gothic novel that eerie feeling and you will shiver with its spookiness. The whole setting was descriptive and dark. The story will slowly swallow you inside it and you find it extremely compelling. Dark Companion is paranormal romance mingled with suspense making a powerful standalone for young adult readers....more

Jane has been shuttled around from foster home to foster home after her parents' death and she doesn't remember all of the details but knows that there was violence involved where she was injured during a storm as well. At her last home, she is mentored by an older boy and follows his advice to always be polite and learn as much as possible in order to make a better life for herself. Her efforts pay off and she is offered a scholarship to Birch GrovSOURCE: PUBLISHER

MY THOUGHTSABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

Jane has been shuttled around from foster home to foster home after her parents' death and she doesn't remember all of the details but knows that there was violence involved where she was injured during a storm as well. At her last home, she is mentored by an older boy and follows his advice to always be polite and learn as much as possible in order to make a better life for herself. Her efforts pay off and she is offered a scholarship to Birch Grove, a private school. At Birch Grove, she is finally free of the daily struggle to just survive and starts to relax a bit until things get a bit creepy and she senses things aren't just right. The headmistress and her family seem welcoming but her two sons, Lucky and Jack are opposites that seem to attract her, both for different reasons.

As Jane learns more about her new surroundings, she discovers the school harbors some deep secrets within the community. She comes upon a mystery of a missing teacher's wife, observes some decidedly strange activities among the townspeople and finds what she believes are bizarre rituals occurring not far from her cottage. Jane does make friends for a change and Mary Violet stands out just because of her fun and snarky attitude about life. Hattie, although she comes off initially as the mean girl, she really does have Jane's back. Then there are the boys. Lucky is a self absorbed twit but he is the golden boy everyone falls for including Jane -- at first. Jack, Lucky's older brother, plays in a band and is the dark to his brother's light. Brooding, poetic and serious, he is always around for Jane, even when Jane doesn't want him there.

There are going to be the obvious comparisons to Jane Eyre and the story does follow it a bit with the characters and plot, but this dark Gothic with paranormal twists is updated and modern. For those of you who have read Acosta's Casa Dracula series, you will be pleased to find Ian Ducharme pop up as the council head in this book as well. I can't tell you how much I adored this book! I did have a chance to read through this book before it was finished a few years back and the polishing that this new version received really tightened the plot and tone. There is humor, intrigue and just the right amount of believability that will suck you right in. I did end up in tears are one or two points, just to warn you! I think this is one that is best suited to teens since there are mentions of alcohol, allusions to sexual situations and some violence, but nothing too graphic.

From the moment I started reading I was hooked. Dark Companion has a mixture of secrets, mysteries, friendships and romance and of course hot boys.

It tells the story of Jane, who survived an accident that killed her, but was brought back to life with no memories just a left over scar.Jane is offered a scholarship to attend Birch Grove School, which she accepts to escape the hellhole she lives in. At Birch Grove, weird things areI got my copy of Dark Companion as a manuscript from Marta Acosta.

From the moment I started reading I was hooked. Dark Companion has a mixture of secrets, mysteries, friendships and romance and of course hot boys.

It tells the story of Jane, who survived an accident that killed her, but was brought back to life with no memories just a left over scar.Jane is offered a scholarship to attend Birch Grove School, which she accepts to escape the hellhole she lives in. At Birch Grove, weird things are going on and Jane discovers what is happening, along the way making great friends and falling in love.

I really enjoyed reading Dark Companion. I found it hard to stop reading, and each night stayed up later and later, trying to get more read to see what happens next.

The writing is paced nicely so you don't feel like the story is rushing to get to an important part. I loved the girls that Jane makes friends with and laughed at some of the comments they made. "You're the creme de la creme. That's French for "all that and a bag of chips".

I really disliked Lucky, I thought he was arrogant, self centred and pretentious and acted like a complete jerk most all of the time. His actions were done to only ensure it was what was best for him alone, and never thought of the consequences of them.Jack I really liked, although he was a little strange and quirky he made me laugh a lot, especially his nicknames for Jane, but he was more free spirited and did a lot of things for others, and making sure they were safe or ok.

I had some suspicions about what was happening with one of the characters, but didn't expect what was really going on and was blown away with all the twists and turns and was never able to pin point exactly the right answer. The final chapters had me on tenterhooks with what was going to happen and was a complete suprise with the characters involved.

I laughed, cried and cheered for Jane, laughing for the anticts her friends got into to, cried for her loss and her memories and cheered when she stands up for herself and makes the right choice.

Marta certainly knows how to keep her readers interested and I am looking forward to reading more from Marta, from her previous books Happy Hour at Casa Dracula and hopefully future books to come. I will definately be buying an actual copy of this book when its released.

"Life isn't fair, so you have to play the best game you can with the cards you're dealt"....more

Jane Williams is a foster child from the rough streets of Helmsdale (‘Hellsdale’). Jane could have sunk into drugged ether like her fellow foster-kids, or sold her body on the street corner like her friend Wilde. But thanks to her intelligent and dearly-departed reverend brother, Hosea, she managed to use her brain and get plucked out of ghetto-obscurity with a scholarship to the elite Birch Grove Academy for Girls.

Jane lives in a beautiful cottage on campus, surrounded by lovely birch trees thaJane Williams is a foster child from the rough streets of Helmsdale (‘Hellsdale’). Jane could have sunk into drugged ether like her fellow foster-kids, or sold her body on the street corner like her friend Wilde. But thanks to her intelligent and dearly-departed reverend brother, Hosea, she managed to use her brain and get plucked out of ghetto-obscurity with a scholarship to the elite Birch Grove Academy for Girls.

Jane lives in a beautiful cottage on campus, surrounded by lovely birch trees that seem to sing. She is also welcomed into the Grove fold by headmistress, Mrs Radcliffe, and her family. Radcliffe has two boys, Lucky and Jack – Lucky is golden-haired perfection, while Jack is curly-haired mania and infuriatingly teasing of Jane’s pixie-esque physique, nicknaming her ‘Halfling’.

Jane also settles into a glorious friendship group – becoming especially close with Jack’s perfect girlfriend, Hattie, and the fabulous romance-writer-in-waiting, Mary Violet. These girls help Jane to navigate her way from street rat to Birch lady.

But all is not well at the Academy. A mysterious figure sneaks around Jane’s cottage. Lucky has some peculiar fetishes, and robed chanting can be heard in the thick of the grove . . .

‘Dark Companion’ is the new young adult paranormal Gothic novel from Marta Acosta.

I adore Ms Acosta. She had me in stitches throughout her vampiric comedy-of-manners ‘Casa Dracula’, and has since become an internet favourite with her ‘Vampire Wire’ blog. So I was thrilled to learn that she was to try her hand at the young adult genre.

‘Dark Companion’ is Acosta’s ode to Jane Eyre, veneration to classic Gothic literature, and an absolute tornado of fresh air in the (sometimes) staid YA paranormal romance genre.

‘Dark Companion’ is by no means a play-by-play of Charlotte Brontë’s classic work. Acosta instead takes aspects of Eyre and infuses them with Gothic young adult modernity, so we get forbidden love, a creepy setting, mad women and Jane’s inherent strength;

I pressed down my fury until it metamorphosed as soft messy carbonate does into a diamond so hard it can cut through steel and with such clarity that I could use it as a lens to see the world as it truly was, cruel and capricious.It was rage that got me to Birch Grove Academy for Girls and out of Hellsdale. I nestled into my bed knowing that rage would help me survive here, too.

Jane really is the stand-out character of ‘Dark Companion’. She’s a character of contradictions – with a sloppy slang tongue but a wickedly sharp mind, and a tough outer shell masking a lonesome girl. I adored her, especially because she didn’t feel like Charlotte’s Jane for very long, as Acosta’s stamp of sassy-vulnerability shone through with the character.

I also loved the boys, Jack and Lucky – two very different brothers who alternately intrigue and infuriate our girl Jane. Jack was especially brilliant – quick with one-liners, ferociously loyal and happy to play the King’s fool (really, any boy who can see himself as a Shakespearean character has my tick of approval).

But my absolute stand-out favourite character had to be Mary Violet, Jane’s fabulous friend with bouncing golden curls and a devious mind. Mary ‘MV’ Violet was très magnifique (that’s French for bloody awesome!). Part of my adoration of MV was her similarity to Acosta’s equally bodacious protagonist of the ‘Casa Dracula’ series, Milagro de Los Santos. Both women exude that certain infectious charisma that makes them both fabulously charming and fabulously funny. . . and Mary wasn’t the only hark-back to ‘Casa Dracula’, there was a cameo appearance by a certain beloved somebody that had me grinning from ear-to-ear!

‘Dark Companion’ is also dripping in delicious Gothicism. From the quotes of Mary Shelley and Bram Stoker, to Jane’s eerie preoccupation and connection to the whispering birch trees that surround her cottage home. . . Acosta plays brilliantly with Gothic conventions and introduces young readers to the finer points of horror.

I adored ‘Dark Compaion’, as I knew I would. Marta Acosta’s writing is cunning and flamboyant, a deliciously dark Gothic delight that’s both a tribute to Jane Eyre while also being delightedly Acosta’s own – from the smart and savvy heroine with a rapier wit, to the cast of gorgeously funny secondary characters, ‘Dark Companion’ is a welcome addition to the paranormal YA scene....more

There is this young orphan girl, who is given a magic ticket out of a hellhole she is living in to go to a posh privileged all-girl school. She is damaged, desperately in need of being loved and has a very cynical view of life.

It's marvellous to see Jane growing as a character throughout of the book. She meets someone who we, readers, think will be perfect for her, - Jack. Charming, kind, full of w4.5/5Simply put, Dark Companion is an enchanting Gothic read, deliciously reminiscent of Jane Eyre.

There is this young orphan girl, who is given a magic ticket out of a hellhole she is living in to go to a posh privileged all-girl school. She is damaged, desperately in need of being loved and has a very cynical view of life.

It's marvellous to see Jane growing as a character throughout of the book. She meets someone who we, readers, think will be perfect for her, - Jack. Charming, kind, full of wit and eccentricity, talented musician with a strong moral code of what's right or wrong...

Marta Acosta manages to show this sense of wrongness really well, and I was struggling through most of the plot with Jane's choices, but still I could understand why she was making them.

*SPOILER ALERT*

When at some point Jane runs away from the Academy, and we see the stark reality of the streets she comes back to, the similarities with Bronte's work ends, because Jane comes back on her own terms, and stronger for it. This is the breaking point of her change. Everything after that makes her see her situation as it is. She is being used and abused and it's up to her to make the right choices.

Secondary characters in Dark Companion are to die for. Mary Violet very much reminded me of Nancy, - another character from Marta's adult series.

Grandmere calls me Marie-Violette and she‘s always asking me about my beaux, which is French for sleazebags with trust funds.

She is full of spark and incredible wit, crazily funny and writes poems about everyone. Most of the girls in Birch Grove are fantastic characters, and the banter between them and Jane is fabulous to read.

Jack is an absolute cutester, and my heart was with him from the very beginning. The book itself is spooky and full of dark undertones reminiscent of Morganville Vampires and Incubus by Carol Goodman.

Also, Ian Ducharme makes a cameo appearance. SQUEEEEE! I love him. If you haven't read Marta's hilarious Casa Dracula series, you MUST. He is gorgeous, insightful charmer with a dangerous reputation of an executioner among the vampires, and his nickname is Dark Lord *snorts*

Overall, Dark Companion is a complex and beautiful read full of shades of gray and uneasy moral choices, charming and haunting....more

You may have noticed that I have not given DARK COMPANION a “rating” and I have done this for a number of reasons. I hope that by the end of this review you will come to understand why, as well as after you read DARK COMPANION you will have to let me know if you feel the same way…

I came across DARK COMPANION back in January of this year and yes, I did drool all over myself when I saw the cover. There is something so dark and beautiful about it I was like a two-year old with grabby hands until IYou may have noticed that I have not given DARK COMPANION a “rating” and I have done this for a number of reasons. I hope that by the end of this review you will come to understand why, as well as after you read DARK COMPANION you will have to let me know if you feel the same way…

I came across DARK COMPANION back in January of this year and yes, I did drool all over myself when I saw the cover. There is something so dark and beautiful about it I was like a two-year old with grabby hands until I snagged a copy via First Reads. I read and re-read the synopsis probably 15 times while I waited for it to arrive in the mail. Each time I read the synop I just couldn’t believe I was so pumped about a Vampire novel (GR had Vampires listed as a Genre, not so much people, kinda, but no). When the mailman finally pulled up with my copy I all put tore the packaging open with my teeth and started reading.

DARK COMPANION starts with a wicked awesome prologue of Jane’s past, which is about the only Paranormal we get for the first half of the book. Then, we read on to learn about Jane now, who has been in foster care and is preparing to leave for the elite Birch Grove Academy. I was hooked solid for the first 150-ish pages – learning about Jane’s time in foster care, a group home, not knowing much about her past and living in a violent neighborhood – yes, I was hooked, but at the same time I was really confused and wondering where my Gothic Paranormal was. Don’t get me wrong, the start to the book was exceptional even without the paranormal aspect and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. But then, Jane gets to Birch Grove and I’m not sure why but the story fell off for me. I actually stopped reading it and read another book because I was so disconnected. Finally, I sat down and finished and I’m glad I didn’t give up hope. The book does pick back up and it kinda ties that middle section together for the readers but even post reading I’m still feeling a bit of something is still missing or rushed. Leaving a couple of pieces of the story a little frayed still. Sorry, I feel like I’m tap dancing a bit around this and I am. It’s the fact that if I tell you some of the things that fell off for me I will give some key reveals of the mystery in the book away and that my friends is not why I’m here, because this read definitely packs some heat in the mystery department which put a smile on this girls face! So, on that note, I’m going to move on and leave you to read and decide where the plot took/takes you - -

One thing this book did deliver on 110% for me was a diverse, amusing set of characters. Again, I loved learning about Jane in the beginning of the book. To me she is a strong, admirable female lead, but I did disconnect with her as I moved through the second half. Which seems odd right? Other odd thing – I don’t really like either of the love interests! NEITHER!? And you still enjoyed it Kimberly? Yes, wanna know why? Of course you do. I’ve got one name for you: Mary Violet. I laughed so freakin’ hard at some points my stomach hurt! She was outstanding and while I didn’t realize it during my reading, but after while I was reviewing notes and pondering my feelings…Mary Violet seems like a supporting character during most of the book, but her character stands for quite a lot, which we will discuss next, but first I have to swing back around to the men! Out of Jack and Lucky, I had more of a connection to Jack. Lucky seemed just a little too odd for me, but again, that may have been the point because he is so strongly tied into the mystery of the plot.

So after all of the confusion and back and forth on the plot, the characters, the genre-bending, the book comes to a close. I set it aside and start gathering my review together and it dawns on me that while DARK COMPANION does bloom into the promised Gothic Paranormal, there is also quite a bit of social issues brought up. Social and economic issues in inner cities, the effects of foster care on children and teens, constant changes in foster and group homes, women’s rights, abusive and potentially abusive relationships…I can keep going, but you can see, like WOW?

Young-Adult Gothic Paranormal Fiction Real Issues read? Sure was a first for me!

The Dark Companion cover is beautiful. It’s what first grabbed me. But after reading the first charter, I knew Dark Companion was going to be an awesome read. Let me start with the terrific characters—and there're plenty of them. My favorites are: Jane, who’s the main character and is as tough as they come, Jack, he's kind of the bad boy who's hilarious, Lucian (Lucky) who's Jack's jerk of a brother (I wanted to give him a piece of my mind) and then Mary Violet, she’s Jane's loads of fun new besThe Dark Companion cover is beautiful. It’s what first grabbed me. But after reading the first charter, I knew Dark Companion was going to be an awesome read. Let me start with the terrific characters—and there're plenty of them. My favorites are: Jane, who’s the main character and is as tough as they come, Jack, he's kind of the bad boy who's hilarious, Lucian (Lucky) who's Jack's jerk of a brother (I wanted to give him a piece of my mind) and then Mary Violet, she’s Jane's loads of fun new best friend. All the characters are wonderful and Marta Acosta amazed me with the way she wrote them and this paranormal storyline. I could completely believe Acosta’s mythology on how these paranormal's came into insistence. It sent eerie chills up my spine. I give high praise to Marta Acosta for being an awesome author who has an amazing talent as writer to make fiction novel believable.

Jane is sixteen and an orphan. She lost her parents when she was six. After living in a group home, Jane has finally worked her way out of that hellhole. Birch Grove Academy offers Jane a full scholarship. Jane has everything the head master, Mrs. Radcliffe, is looking for: smart, healthy, and no living relatives. Jane has had a hard cruel life, and she can't believe that she finally getting her chance. But she’ll find out nothing is free. Mrs. Radcliffe has alterative motives. Head Master Radcliffe needs a companion for her gorgeous son, Lucian (Lucky). Companion has a whole other meaning at this private school, and when Lucian starts to show Jane some attention, it's not hard for Jane to fall for him. Jane spent the last ten years trying to get out the group home in Hellsdale just to discover she’s traded one hell for another. But is she willing to pay the price of becoming a Companion just for the illusion of a love she’s longed for her whole life?

Jack is Lucian's older, adopted brother. Jack knows his adopted family’s dark secrets. He also annoys Jane to no end. Their relationship is hilarious and intense. Jack, even though he's jokester, is adorable, because behind all that slackerness, there’s a little bit of a bad boy. He’s also in a band instead of college. And it's who he is underneath that had me loving him, but Jack keeps all this pretty well hidden from Jane. Jane’s hungry to feel love and to be loved. But is she so hungry for it that she's blinded, and will accept one gorgeous guy's sadistic love over another who truly loves her with all his heart?

Dark Companion gave me the creeps at how believable the storyline was. But as chillingly creepy as it was, it's also beautiful, and one I will love forever. I highly recommend Dark Companion as a must read.

Dark Companion by Marta Acosta caught my attention on Tor’s website and I knew I had to review it. I am pleased to tell you that this creepy, dark and unique novel delivered. It has mystery, romance, interesting characters and a plot filled with twists.

It begins when we meet Jane Williams an emancipated minor who is leaving her foster home to attend an all girl’s school known as Birchwood Grove Academy for Girls. In an attempt to change her life, Jane has studied diligently and has received a fuDark Companion by Marta Acosta caught my attention on Tor’s website and I knew I had to review it. I am pleased to tell you that this creepy, dark and unique novel delivered. It has mystery, romance, interesting characters and a plot filled with twists.

It begins when we meet Jane Williams an emancipated minor who is leaving her foster home to attend an all girl’s school known as Birchwood Grove Academy for Girls. In an attempt to change her life, Jane has studied diligently and has received a full scholarship from this elite academy. She says good-bye to her old life, and friends, in run down Hellsdale. School is set to begin in a few days, and she quickly settles in at the cottage that will be her home. The tale that unfolds is fun, suspenseful and eerily creepy as Jane learns things aren’t quite normal at Birchwood. She meets two brothers. One wants to protect her and the other desperately needs something from her. I quickly became immersed in this world and consumed this novel in the course of two evenings.

The protagonist Jane has had a tough life. She was involved in a horrific event when she was a child and has no memories of it. Growing up in foster care was difficult but another child influenced her, and pushed her to reach for her dreams. She is driven, kind and unique. She is grounded in her belief that she is ordinary. She believes that with hard work anyone can overcome. She is flawed and that becomes apparent in her relationships with both Lucky and Jack. I adored Jack and was unsure of Lucky. They are the only boys living on campus as they are the head mistresses sons. Jane tutors Lucky. He is impossibly good looking, popular and extremely quirky. Jane’s relationship with Lucky was really creepy and at times made me feel downright uncomfortable. Jack has already graduated, plays in a band and teases Jane unmercifully. While he doesn’t have Lucky’s god like looks, he is charming and lovable. I questioned Jane's actions and at one point wanted to slap her and yell are you crazy! I love when a book gets me this involves. My favorite character was Mary Violet and she made me laugh with her poems and comments. This child is an original and I loved that about her. Other characters rounded out the cast and added to the mystery of Birchwood.

The tale Acosta has spun is unique and at times very dark. The whole tale is shrouded in mystery and we learn things as Jane does. This added to the whole creepy factor and I loved every minute of it! The pacing is well done and the author’s writing style brought the tale to life. With a secret society, rituals and lore, this book is sure to keep you spellbound. She even manages to deal with prejudice and social differences. I love that despite the mystery the main characters were well fleshed out. Acosta kept me guessing as to who everyone was and what their intent was. I loved this aspect of it. While the reveal of the secrets at Birchwood was very, very strange it was unique and felt surreal. As I stated in the previous paragraph parts were creepy and kind of made me feel of balance as I read them, but it all came together nicely.

I recommend Dark Companion to fans of dark paranormal mysteries with a splash of romance. I think you will enjoy discovering the secrets within the halls of Birchwood Academy. I am adding Marta Acosta to my author’s to watch list.

When I saw that this book was available , I snatched it up as quickly as I could as I love the author Marta Acosta's work , funnily enough I actually read a Chick Lit book the other month that she had written under a pseudonym and really enjoyed that too. Check out "Nancy's Theory of Style" by Grace Coopersmith.

Dark companion formerly known as The Shadow Girl of Birch Grove is a novel written for the teenage audience and for all those who have read Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte will notice simiWhen I saw that this book was available , I snatched it up as quickly as I could as I love the author Marta Acosta's work , funnily enough I actually read a Chick Lit book the other month that she had written under a pseudonym and really enjoyed that too. Check out "Nancy's Theory of Style" by Grace Coopersmith.

Dark companion formerly known as The Shadow Girl of Birch Grove is a novel written for the teenage audience and for all those who have read Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte will notice similarities and not just with the main character's name being called Jane. Jane is an orphan , growing up in group homes and foster homes - her mother died when she was seven and she has never met her father who skipped out just before she was born. All Jane had growing up was a friend in the home called Hosea - when Hosea passes away, Jane meets a new group of friends called "The Alphas" . It is here, that she turns her interest to studying and is soon rewarded with a full-paid scholarship to a private school "Birch Grove Academy for Girls". Taken under the wing of principal Mrs Monroe , Jane finds that maybe she finally has a home - however as Jane is about to realise , things are not what they seem at Birch Grove. Strange things are happening and have happened and theirs even tales that the Birch trees talk.Soon Jane is chucked into what can be her known as her own Gothic novel as Jane is about to discover, that their are things out there that are not human and has she gotten herself over her head when she accepted the scholarship ? What will happen to Jane when she discovers the truth about the previous scholarship girl fast and abrupt exit , will Jane be next or will she become one of the lucky ones?...more

Quick & Dirty: A dark and mysterious coming of age book with a twist of paranormal on top.

Opening Sentence: When I was six, I was entered into the foster care system because there was no one to care for me.

The Review:

I do not usually cover the reviews for the young adult books, even though I have done several in the past. Young adult novels tends to be a little predictable for me. For instance, I am never sending my kids away to an academy; they are alwaysReview courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: A dark and mysterious coming of age book with a twist of paranormal on top.

Opening Sentence: When I was six, I was entered into the foster care system because there was no one to care for me.

The Review:

I do not usually cover the reviews for the young adult books, even though I have done several in the past. Young adult novels tends to be a little predictable for me. For instance, I am never sending my kids away to an academy; they are always bad news. I have yet to read a YA book where something good happens to a child that attends some kind of elitist school for over-achievers, scholarship or not. I mean really, the track record speaks for itself. I dare you to name one fictional academy that hasn’t been attacked, burned down, brainwashed its students and/or faculty, infiltrated by a secret cult, or otherwise decimated by tragedy of one kind or another. Yes, Dark Companion’s Birch Grove Academy for Girls is no exception to the rule.

Jane Williams’ life has not been easy. Orphaned and left in a group home in a bad neighborhood has encouraged her to excel in school so that she can eventually get away from her home. Being offered a full ride scholarship to a prestigious all-girl academy is the opportunity of a lifetime, right? She might change her mind once she finds out the real reason she was chosen, and it’s not because of her outstanding grades.

Birch Grove Academy is quite an elitist facility; a far cry from Jane’s former school. When Jane finds out the true differences between them, she may want to take her chances in the ghetto. At least there, she knows the rules and who she needs to stay away from. The gorgeous guys and sophisticated looking girls leave Jane feeling more than a little out of place. Her need for acceptance dominates everything she does throughout the book. Can she make a home here? Can she find the strength to stand up for herself and fight for her own place in the world? Will the other students accept her as she is or as they would make her into?

Mrs. Radcliffe, headmistress of the Academy, and her family are symbolic of all things odd in Birch Grove. They are wealthy, prestigious, good looking, and seem to be a really great family; everything Jane has always wanted. But be careful what you wish for; because like all bright lights, there are shadows cast. The family has a genetic anomaly that makes them act very similar to vampires. They use their position and wealth to find people that will supply them with the occasional blood their bodies require. Jane’s time within the dredges of society have shown her drug addicts and users. Are these people any different than those she knew before?

Jack Radcliffe and his brother, Lucian, offer two different sides of a coin; Lucky and his golden boy image and Jack with his brooding attitude and his fairy tales. These characters sum up the whole of this book. Jane loving Lucky because she wants what he represents and her rallying against Jack and his rebellious yet sexy nature. This good guy versus bad boy is typical of YA romances but I like how the author spins it. In the end, all the teenagers are flawed and all the characters are fallible; just like everyone else.

The only thing that I disliked was the introduction of the mystical nature of the Lady of the Woods. It would have been a fine novel without its inclusion. I hope that it turns out to be a set up for future novels instead of what appears to be almost as an afterthought. I get that the author was using it against Jane’s more scientific outlook on life but it came across as choppy against the overall flow.

Overall, this story is a little better than the typical schoolgirl coming of age. The prose and composition are a much higher quality than I have seen in other books in this genre. It is a dark and twisted tale that puts the vampire ideal onto its head.

Notable Scene:

A frisson ran through me at the thought that Jack might have been staring down the hill at the same time that I was staring up toward his house.

“I think, has my halfling become habituated to the sounds? Should I visit her? But I get the feeling that you don’t enjoy our conversations and you don’t like my friendly neighborhood visits.”

“Why should I? One minute you’re nice to me, and the next you’re lecturing me. You’re the one who asks trick questions, and talking to you is an exercise in futility.”

His eyes darkened and his smile was as chilly as the breeze. “Hattie doesn’t think so. I understand her and she understands me. Isn’t that what love is, knowing another person so perfectly well that there are no surprises?”

“You always bring up Hattie as if you’re complimenting her, when you’re really just putting me down, Jack. I know Hattie’s beautiful, talented, and sophisticated.” I felt myself losing control even though I knew that’s exactly what Jack wanted. “And I know that I’m small, plain, and no- class. I accept those facts. I accept that no one will ever fall in love with me because I’m pretty and fun, but I hope that maybe someday someone will get to know me, and he’ll find out

that I have a heart and a mind just as good as any pretty girl’s.”

“And you would love him no matter what he looked like?”

“If he needed me, yes! I would be loyal to him and I would never give up trying to make him happy.” I tried to blink back my tears.

“That’s not love, Jane, that’s letting yourself be used.”

I felt as panicked as a bird caught in a room, battering against a closed window. “If you want to know what love is, ask someone who’s been loved, ask Hattie, because I don’t know what it means!”

Jack watched me somberly and then his green eyes moved down and he saw the yellow and violet bruising around the scab on my arm. Stepping to me, he gently put his calloused hands on my wrists and heat from him went through my body. I tasted the salt of my tears as they slid down my face. I wanted to wipe them away, but Jack still held my wrists.

“Oh, Halfling, what have you done?” he murmured. “What have you let him do to you?”

FTC Advisory: Macmillan/TOR graciously provided me with a copy of Dark Companion. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. The only payments I receive are hugs and kisses from my little boys....more

At the beginning of each chapter is a quote from some classical novel. I was very impressed by the wide variety of quotes and felt the author must be highly well read. As the book progressed, however, the quotes got less exciting and more similar, they lost their appeal.

The characters seem a bit unstable, especially Jane. If you are a huge Jane Eyre fan you might not be satisfied with this rendition. The story and characters have been put in a salad tosser and thoroughly displaced. Character linAt the beginning of each chapter is a quote from some classical novel. I was very impressed by the wide variety of quotes and felt the author must be highly well read. As the book progressed, however, the quotes got less exciting and more similar, they lost their appeal.

The characters seem a bit unstable, especially Jane. If you are a huge Jane Eyre fan you might not be satisfied with this rendition. The story and characters have been put in a salad tosser and thoroughly displaced. Character lines have been blurred and I sometimes felt Lucky was more like Mr. Rochester. I also had a hard time accepting the characters. Trying to put the adult characters into teenagers just didn't sit right. Mr. Rochester went through several hard years and events to produce his bitterness and personality. Jack just came off as odd wearing Mr. Rochester's mantle at eighteen. Jane was not true to character either. She completely falls for a pretty face and becomes rather tedious. I was bugged by her dumb choices, especially the section where she runs away. She didn't actually accomplish anything and it came across as more of a temper tantrum than her standing her moral ground. Jane is incredibly dense and terribly hypocritical. She is also very weak willed and allows others to use her. I just didn't like her.

The ending drags on forever, three chapters of unnecessary details. It is also rather bizarre with the random appearance of a crazy person. I think the crazy must have infected the other characters because they suddenly start singing a different tune.

My biggest miff with this book was all the crudity. Jane Eyre is a clean yet deep read and all the crudity in this rendition made it feel cheap. There are also several points where the story lacks subtle transitioning and feels choppy.

I think had I not been such a fan of Jane Eyre I might have enjoyed this book. It reminds me of how modern film makers adapt classics to younger audiences. The stories become very sexual and more shallow. Perhaps this book will likewise hit it off with the younger crowd but it is a miss for me.

Jane Williams is an orphan. She comes from Helmsdale, or as the residents call it Hellsdale. Her mother died when she was young, but Jane's got what's known as 'retro-grade amnesia' and that means she's lost access to events that have occurred. She can't remember her mother, her father, her life before a certain point (I won't tell you what causes her RA - that's not for me to tell you - so it may at this point, seem a littleTaken from my original review:

Jane Williams is an orphan. She comes from Helmsdale, or as the residents call it Hellsdale. Her mother died when she was young, but Jane's got what's known as 'retro-grade amnesia' and that means she's lost access to events that have occurred. She can't remember her mother, her father, her life before a certain point (I won't tell you what causes her RA - that's not for me to tell you - so it may at this point, seem a little confusing)Jane has been in care and her foster mother has treated her pretty badly. So it's just about time for Jane to leave and it's perfect timing that she should be offered a scholarship to an elite school Birch Grove Academy For Girls. She may have lived in the godforsaken town of Hellsdale, but she didn't let that get in the way of getting an education, as far as one can in a town where the school is not exactly up to standard. But she worked hard. She had to. If not for herself, then in memory of her friend Hosea. Hosea was Jane's best friend, but he contracted meningitis and sadly passed away. So it was with this in mind that Jane pushed herself and strived to achieve the very best she could.

Once Jane arrived at Birch Grove, she was shown a beautiful academy where she could put her knowledge to good use. She could really make something of herself. Jane's life plan was to do well at school, get good grades, find a good job - everything any young woman wants for herself. If Jane can only stay on with Birch Grove and achieve the qualifications, she's in good stead to achieve her dreams.

Once school starts, Jane finds herself with a group of friends, people who she may never have associated with before Birch Grove, but that's probably just because none of them were from Hellsdale. I will leave it for you to meet the girls, it's definitely much more fun to experience them first-hand.

Jane is embraced by the Radcliffe family, the headmistress, her husband Tobias and their two sons Lucian and Jacob. But she starts to suspect that there is more to them than meets the eye. At first glance, people would see Lucian - known as Lucky - as the golden haired, blue-eyed, disarmingly handsome boy that draws attention from all the girls. His brother Jacob - or Jake - is the opposite. He's not so much in the limelight with the girls. He's a musician and he's got a kind of air about him. He's hard to describe really. His sardonic nature has you on the back-foot so that you never know when to take him seriously.

Life at the academy isn't all it seems from the outside though. Something isn't quite right, but Jane can't be sure what it is.

Now, it isn't for me to tell you what it is that Jane discovers. Instead it's time I told you how I felt about the story. Firstly, I adored Jane. She doesn't come from the best beginning in life and so you would forgive her for being a little "woe is me" but she isn't. She may have the nickname Mousie, but that's very misleading. She is actually quite a feisty young woman with a fire in her belly when the situation so requires. I admire her guts and determination, the fact that she's fierce and fights for what she thinks is right. There are times when she questions herself as well as others, but I found that I didn't blame her. I would have felt the same, even if I had dealt with it a bit differently.Jane is an easy protagonist to relate to. We haven't all come from the same beginnings, but it's easy to imagine how she must feel. Perhaps it's because I too don't have parents that I can empathise with her. Though I didn't end up in care, nor was I offered a scholarship to a girls academy. But I could imagine myself being in her shoes and what I would have done with the situation she was presented with.

As for the other characters, I really liked MV, Constance and Harriet. 3 better friends a girl could not wish for. They all had very unique personalities and character traits that made them very enjoyable. There were times when Jane was interacting with them that I felt like I was right there in the story with them and sharing the precious moments where they laughed and joked with each other. MV in particular was what I would call high-maintenance. But having said that, she was probably my personal favourite of the 3. MV has a knack for bringing laughter to a situation, no matter how dire.

Then there's the Radcliffe family. Hyacinth and Tobias were a nice couple. They each have their quirks that you will discover in due course for yourself. As for the boys, well where to start? Lucky is the handsome, charming boy who you'd be proud to take home to your mother. At least on the face of it. Dig a little deeper and he's not my favourite character. That's not because he's a bad guy, don't get me wrong. It's more the way he treats Jane really gets on my last nerve. Because Lucky is the disarmingly handsome one, you assume that he and Jane are going to be the swoon-worthy love story of the book. But it's Lucky's careless disregard for Jane's feelings that really had me on edge. I can't really give you examples, but though Lucky is a nice person, he seems to get carried away with taking what he wants from his relationship with Jane and not necessarily giving her what she needs. To me, relationships are meant to be a mixture of give and take, partners are equal. However Lucky is all take, take, take and Jane is all give, give, give. What I probably feel most saddened by is the fact that she is blind to this. She wants to give Lucky everything he wants in order for him to be happy. But in my personal opinion, she should have more self-worth and realise that she is worth more than a boy like him can possibly give her.

There's also Jack. He's not as 'traditionally handsome' as Lucky. He's not the boy that girls are falling over their own feet to be near. I guess you could say he's the underdog. I don't mind telling you that I am usually more of an advocate for the underdog. Jack is a very puzzling young man. He's got the kind of attitude that makes you want to tear your hair out. Not because he's got a bad attitude, he's just very sarcastic and you never know when to take him seriously or if he is playing with you.I don't mind admitting that it's Jack that won my heart. I may be alone in this - but I don't mind being an individual - I can honestly say, I am Team Jack all the way. I hope that if Marta writes more books in this series she features Jack quite prominently. I am currently unaware whether this is to be a stand-alone novel, or if there will indeed be more to come. I know I really hope that it's at the very least, a trilogy.

I loved the world that Marta Acosta created and the characters she chose to feature in it. The writing itself is beautiful and in some instances, quite haunting. Some of it really sticks with you (nothing I'm willing to share, of course - you'll just have to pick up a copy). I adore the way Marta uses quotes between her chapters. There's quotes from books like Jane Eyre and The Picture of Dorian Grey. They all tie in beautifully with what each chapter is about. You can tell that there is a lot of research that went into writing this story and you can see Marta herself is a well read, well educated woman.

I am looking very much forward to owning DARK COMPANION in hardback. I currently have it on my Kindle as it's an eARC and I feel like it's definitely something I need to own and put on my shelf of favourite books....more

Are you ready for a long, involved discussion? Because that’s what you’re going to get. I felt like this book had lots of layers to it. Some of them I quite liked and others, I didn’t quite care for all that much. First, I appreciated how subtly clever the author was with the epigraph. (An epigraph, in literature, is a quotation/poem/etc at the beginning of a chapter or a novel that does two things: one, sets the mood of the novel/chapter and two, contextualizes the work or induct its among theAre you ready for a long, involved discussion? Because that’s what you’re going to get. I felt like this book had lots of layers to it. Some of them I quite liked and others, I didn’t quite care for all that much. First, I appreciated how subtly clever the author was with the epigraph. (An epigraph, in literature, is a quotation/poem/etc at the beginning of a chapter or a novel that does two things: one, sets the mood of the novel/chapter and two, contextualizes the work or induct its among the ranks of a preexisting canon.) Acosta’s first epigraph is from a novel by Ann Radcliffe and if you know anything about Brit Lit, you will be aware that she was important where the Gothic genre is concerned. This epigraph lets readers know that Dark Companion is a Gothic novel and tells them to expect the eerie mood and atmosphere characteristic of Gothic novels. This is setting the mood of the novel without even writing a single word, people! Genius stuff. Acosta follows it up by naming the Headmistress Mrs. Radcliffe which I personally thought was a bit overkill but that’s just a personal preference.

There are several things I really liked about this novel. Let me tell you about them. The characterizations are well done. The characters pop out of the page at you and I have to admit, my favourite characters are Jane’s female friends. I love love love Mary Violet, she of the creative vocabulary and expansive gestures. Her brand of craziness is right up my alley. I also really liked the dynamics of their friendship. Obviously there’s an imbalance in their social and financial status – between Jane and the rest – but there’s an inherent honesty between them that makes the status thing obsolete. The writing is a pleasure to read as Acosta does not shy away from using words that may not be present in the vocabulary of every day teens, rather she revels in playing with language. I also appreciated how Acosta approached the Mean Girls. There were some present but they weren’t given as much prominence as they usually are. Another thing that I thought was well done was how Acosta took time and thought to portray Jane’s lack of choices where her life was concerned. She did this to prepare readers for a decision Jane makes that would seem like anathema to most of us (hopefully) but as she shows readers, Jane has literally no other choice. We are snug in our bedrooms, content in the knowledge that we are loved and have a roof over our heads and therefore, we may find it easy to judge Jane for her decisions. I’m not going to lie – I did. In fact, I got a squicky feeling that had me re-evaluating how much I liked the novel. Even though I realized that Jane had no other choice left to her if she wanted to get ahead in life – I still felt that she ought to have had fashioned for herself a different choice. Perhaps that’s just me and my personal limits and boundaries that I don’t see myself crossing no matter what.

What I didn’t care for at all in the novel is the romance. I understand this is a Gothic novel and I reckon this is a matter of personal preference but I cannot stand a main character who behaves stupidly where a boy is concerned. Especially one who is supposed to be street smart and cynical. On the flip side, this may exactly be why she behaves this way – because never before has she had so much attention showered on her by a guy who looks like well, who looks as gorgeous as he supposedly does. I honestly felt that the romance was the weak point of this novel. Jane’s justification about the change in her object of affection is frankly unbelievable and I would have accepted it once or twice but the repetitiveness of her justifications (but I love him!) drains away my patience. And then the sudden change makes things even more unbelievable. I was all for the change but come on now, make it a bit more gradual and not such a sudden epiphany. However, once my grumbling is done, I found Jack to be a very interesting love interest and Lucky…well, he’s Lucky, the less said the better. I will say, though, that once the mess was resolved, I quite liked how Jane and the guy she ends up with interact. It was cute.

I wish there had been more page time devoted to that wood creature that Jane seems to have such an affinity for. I wanted Jane to have some power of her own that offset the hideousness of her earlier life. I felt that she deserved it.

In conclusion, Dark Companion is a very readable book. It offers you intrigue, adventure, thrills and glimpses of very strong friendship. I can’t wait to see what Ms. Acosta comes up with next....more

"Dark Companion" is dark and gritty. The main character, Jane's life has been about surviving in a harsh environment. Many of those around her have succumbed to doing whatever it takes to survive, including dealing drugs and prostitution. After a tragic incident Jane decides to turn her life around through pure determination. She studies hard gets good grades which allow her to get accepted into the prominent Birch Grove Academy. Life at Birch Grove is as different from her former life as one c "Dark Companion" is dark and gritty. The main character, Jane's life has been about surviving in a harsh environment. Many of those around her have succumbed to doing whatever it takes to survive, including dealing drugs and prostitution. After a tragic incident Jane decides to turn her life around through pure determination. She studies hard gets good grades which allow her to get accepted into the prominent Birch Grove Academy. Life at Birch Grove is as different from her former life as one can expect.

Jane is a very determined girl who is both street and book smart but a little socially awkward. She's cautious because of the way that she grew up, though she does come out of her shell as she begins to get comfortable at life at the academy. At times I was annoyed by some of her choices. She seemed too easily swayed by a pretty face. One of my favorie characters is one of the girls Jane meets at the academy, Mary Violet (MV). She's funny, caring, and totally dramatic. I looked forward to her scenes wondering what she would say next. She made the book really enjoyable for me. Lucian (Lucky) and Jacob (Jack) are brothers who are very different from one another. Lucky is the guy that every girl wants and he definitely knows it. Jack on the other hand is sarcastic and does whatever he wants which happens to include annoying Jane. Each boy plays a part in Jane's new life. There are a ton of other characters that inhabit the world created by Marta Acosta.

Everything wrapped up nicely but I could see another book about Jane and Birch Grove Academy. I loved that it took awhile for me to figure out what was going on at the academy. There were several plot twists that made this book exciting. I don't like it when a book is too predictable and you know what's going to happen before it does. I also like there is a mystery that the main character ends up trying to solve. Overall, "Dark Companion" is a pretty good book and if there was another book about these characters I would definitely read it. ...more

It’s hard to describe the type of book that DARK COMPANION is. It seems to contain paranormal elements, yet never entirely crosses over into the realm of the supernatural. One thing, though, is for sure: DARK COMPANION explores the grittiness of life in foster care, the glamour of a delightful new life in boarding school, and the drastic decisions one may be forced to take in order to determine one’s future.

DARK COMPANION has interesting characters going for it. The protagonist, Jane, has had aIt’s hard to describe the type of book that DARK COMPANION is. It seems to contain paranormal elements, yet never entirely crosses over into the realm of the supernatural. One thing, though, is for sure: DARK COMPANION explores the grittiness of life in foster care, the glamour of a delightful new life in boarding school, and the drastic decisions one may be forced to take in order to determine one’s future.

DARK COMPANION has interesting characters going for it. The protagonist, Jane, has had a rough childhood, which manifests in how she deals with things: she is suspicious about things that sound too good to be true, slow to open up to others, and pragmatically looks after her own affairs. Jack is particularly appealing in how he uses a teasing nature to cover his deeper thoughts and concerns. However, Mary Violet, Jane’s cheerful close friend at Birch Grove, steals the show, with her adorable (mis)use of vocabulary and her remarkable ability to bridge intelligence with endearing optimism.

It comes as a disappointment, then, that DARK COMPANION struggles under a distracting number of writing issues and clichéd aspects. This tome could have easily been cut in half with tighter editing and more attention paid to whether conversations, descriptions, or scenes are really necessary for the progression of the story. DARK COMPANION contains a lot of unnecessary dialogues that usually sound like something along the lines of: “Want to have dinner at our place tomorrow night?” “Yeah, sure, that sounds great.” “Great! When should I pick you up?” “Um, I don’t know, when is good for you?” “How about 7?” “Seven sounds perfect.” “Great! I’ll see you then.” “See you!” when all of that could’ve easily been expressed with the sentence, “He invited me to have dinner with his family tomorrow night.”

Furthermore, despite Jane’s claims of pragmatism and maturity, she falls into the all-too-convenient trope of “supposedly smart female MC going stupid over an undeserving boy.” Sure, I can understand the fact that all people will act in a retrospectively idiotic way when they are in limerence…but Jane’s doormat behavior for the supposed love of her life was so inconsistent with her independence-as-a-result-of-a-miserable-upbringing that I could never entirely stomach it.

DARK COMPANION does have its commendable aspects: condense it by about a third, and you have a story that’s real enough for readers to connect with the characters, yet strange enough to keep your attention. If this is a setup for more in a series (and it certainly reads like it), I would be curious to see what more strange and fantastical scenarios Marta Acosta will create for readers....more

This book was not at all what I expected, but that isn't a bad thing. It was bizarre in ways that made this novel really stand out. I also found it to be thought provoking. Another Lark, Michele B., was reading this one at the same time and we would exchange lengthy emails about our thoughts and questions. It took me a little time to settle into this one and decide if I liked it or not. In the end, I decided that anyReview Posted on Reading Lark 6/12/12: http://readinglark.blogspot.com/2012/...

This book was not at all what I expected, but that isn't a bad thing. It was bizarre in ways that made this novel really stand out. I also found it to be thought provoking. Another Lark, Michele B., was reading this one at the same time and we would exchange lengthy emails about our thoughts and questions. It took me a little time to settle into this one and decide if I liked it or not. In the end, I decided that any book that I couldn't put down and one that generated so many questions and conversations, is certainly one that I needed to give a higher rating. Be prepared to put in some work for this one, but its well worth your time if you are willing to put forth the effort.

One of my favorite things about this book was Marta Acosta's writing style. She has some great dialog, interesting characters, and her writing flows well. This is one of those novels where all of the characters are memorable. I found myself getting angry with Jane, giggling at Mary Violet, rolling my eyes at Lucky, and peering around each page in search of Jack. All of the characters - even the flawed ones and villain types - are worth getting to know. I also really liked that Jane was different than most YA heroines. She's tough, smart, and grew up in the foster care system. It was refreshing to see a character that didn't have a great family, but still managed to overcome her obstacles. Jane's desire to be a part of a family and have unconditional love will lead to some pretty intense moments in the plot. The evolution of Jane as a character in this one is also the mark of a talented writer.

In addition to the characters, I also really enjoyed the setting of this one. There is just something about stories that take place in exclusive schools that draws me in. Birch Grove Academy is an all girls school located in a gorgeous town. Only the best of the best are given admission. Jane knows that she might have trouble fitting in since she "comes from the wrong side of the tracks". The school and its grounds lends a lot of mystery and spookiness to the plot. I truly enjoyed all the tree imagery and symbolism that runs throughout this one.

Furthermore, this is not just a paranormal good time. Serious issues such as gender inequality and socioeconomic status are discussed at length. I really liked the author's treatment of these issues. Her take on them was thought provoking. Acosta also forces the reader to consider what it would be like to be in a relationship with someone who was neglectful and often hurtful. Those elements made me cringe, but I think they provide valuable lessons.

I don't really want to go into the paranormal aspects of this one because part of the fun for me was piecing things together as I read. I do not want to rob our readers of that pleasure. I will say that I found the elements intriguing, but was slightly frustrated that there was never a "big reveal". The nature of the paranormal beings in this one is alluded to, but nobody ever comes right out and admits what they truly are - rather they choose to blame a genetic abnormality for the condition.

My biggest complaint overall is the ending. Things do get resolved, but some of these resolutions seemed force or thrown together at the last minute. It felt very rushed and didn't flow as smoothly as other sections of the novel.

Overall, I really enjoyed the time I spent in Acosta's creation. If you're looking for a paranormal with some interesting twists - this is the book for you. It's bizarre enough to help you get over that supernatural slump and hold your interest. Acosta does a beautiful job of channeling gothic novels of old and bringing that feeling into the modern era. Dark Companion is the perfect read for those stormy, summer nights.

One Last Gripe: I hated how Jane always allowed Lucky to have his way. Somebody needed to punch that boy in the face.

My Favorite Thing About This Book: I enjoyed the quotations from famous novels before each chapter. They helped set the mood for what was to come.

First Sentence: On the night that I die, a storm rages, and the thin glass of the cheap windows shudder as if beaten by fists, and the wind howls like someone calling come away, come away.

Marta Acosta lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. She was a feral reader, roaming the stacks of the public library.

She received a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing from Stanford University and has written for the San Francisco Chronicle, the Contra Costa Times, and Spaces Magazine.

Marta lives with her husband, spawn, and their crazy dogs. An avid gardener, she likes independent filMarta Acosta lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. She was a feral reader, roaming the stacks of the public library.

She received a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing from Stanford University and has written for the San Francisco Chronicle, the Contra Costa Times, and Spaces Magazine.

Marta lives with her husband, spawn, and their crazy dogs. An avid gardener, she likes independent films, funny novels, loud music and lively conversations.

She’s always happy to hear from readers, even the ones who point out typos....more